A new star in the BMW Tuning galaxy? The signs are looking good for
this rather powerfully eloquent proclamation because with the M3 GT
500, the Gießen-based young enterprise Leib Engineering specializing
in performance tuning is presenting its first project vehicle – and
quite convincingly across the board too with a few technical
gimmicks.

The M3 GT 500 succeeds perfectly well in completing the difficult
balancing act between the fast club sport racing element and the
element of the representative “Boulevard-Beau“: from a purely visual
point of view, Leib Engineering has maintained a pleasantly cautious
posture in the high-grade finishing of the M3 relying only on
selected OEM carbon fiber parts that sharply contrast the alpine
white paintwork: the carbon flaps under the front spoiler, side-view
mirror made of carbon and the tear-off edge also made of carbon on
the trunk cover are all taken from BMW’s Performance Program.

One absolute highlight of the vehicle is the in-house valve exhaust
system (made of high-grade steel) as from the manifold, which covers
a 100-cell HJS catalyzer, an X-pipe with middle silencers and an end
muffler with vacuum-controlled Pierburg valves. The sound of the
system is controlled through the M-key. The performance boost – in
the opened or closed state of the valve – thus generated amounted to
a good 27.5 Horse Power as a result of its special design. Further
25 Horse Power is generated by Leib Engineering through the
optimization of the engine software in such a way that altogether, a
good 470 Horse Power is sent in the direction of the drive train –
Suction Tuning par excellence.

To maintain the balance of the newfound power, Leib Engineering also
installed a potent Brembo GT braking system, whose red 6-piston
fixed saddles on the front axle hold perforated 380x32-millimeter
discs firmly in their grip. 4-piston saddles on perforated
320x28-millimeter brake discs act on the rear.
Leib Engineering waives the usage of Aftermarket rims. It preferred
in its stead, to place the M3 coupé on black powdered BMW M220
forged alloy wheels of size 8.5x19 and 9.5x19 inches. Once running
on operating temperature, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup semi-slicks
in 235/35R19 and 265/30R19 glue to the asphalt like old chewing gum
and thus enable virtually “indecent” curve speeds. The ABS software
was especially designed for motor sport application with
semi-slicks, in such a way that even shorter breaking distance can
now be achieved. The dual clutch transmission system now functions
with even shorter shifting times after a software update.

Even the electronic system of the KW DDC ECU chassis suspension was
modified by Leib Engineering in such a way that the electronic
damper control system of the high-tech coilover suspension can now
be comfortably controlled through the original EDC key or M key
(after pre-selection in M-Drive menu).

In spite of all
sportiness, the interior is anything else but spartanic: Leib
Engineering ennobled the passenger cabin with fine alcantara
material, which also includes the BMW Performance seats. Soft
alcantara gently caresses the hands also when the BMW Performance
steering wheel with display and the company’s own shift paddle or
DKG gear lever knob are held.

All other facts as well as price and delivery information can be
obtained directly from: